Crvena Zvezda's president: 'We had the idea that Pablo Laso would take over' / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: BETAPHOTO/SIPA - Scanpix Credit BETAPHOTO/SIPA - Scanpix

Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade yesterday announced the signing of their new head coach, Vladimir Jovanovic.

Points this season

45%73,8Points made:73,8Accuracy:45,4%Place in standings:15Record max:98Record min:57Best scorer:Nikola KalinicTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

The president of the club, Nebojsa Covic, spoke in the club's assembly yesterday about the coaching changes, the team's possible signings down the road, and the situation with Nikola Kalinic.

"We had the idea that Pablo Laso would take over the bench when we heard about the outcome with Real Madrid," the president told. "When we established contact, we received an answer that his health situation does not allow him to come to Belgrade."

After being the head coach of the team for the last two years, Dejan Radonjic left the club for Panathinaikos OPAP Athens. According to the Serbian club's president, there was a belief that the coach would stay until the very last minute.

"We did not expect that the coach [Dejan Radonjic], whose contract expired on June 30th, would leave," Covic said. "This is not the first time he worked in Serbia since there was a story about delays in payments. Then the process of finding a new coach started. There is always a risk with foreign coaches since the payments must be regular."

Yesterday Crvena Zvezda announced the signing of Nemanja Nedovic. The former Panathinaikos guard will come back to the team where he started his professional career after a 10-year absence. The Serbian team has recently cleared up the talks about the player's buyout.

"As for the other reinforcements, we contacted Teo [Milos Teodosic], Bobi [Boban Marjanovic], [Nemanja] Bjelica, and [Miroslav] Raduljica," Covic explained. "Teodosic has a contract with Virtus, Bjelica has decided to go to Fener, Bobi has one more year in the NBA, and there will be more contacts with Raduljica, the situation is currently undefined."

The biggest star of the club, Nikola Kalinic, has reportedly opted out of his contract and is now being considered by FC Barcelona. The Catalan team has submitted an offer to gain his ACB rights from Valencia Basket, but Kalinic's former club has reportedly matched the offer.

"I still hope that Kalinic will stay," Covic told during the assembly. "I had a few talks with him, there are chances that he will extend his contract, with an increased offer, which may be even stronger than that of Barcelona. Virtus also appeared, everything should be finished in two or three days."

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